--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It may be said that the power of…" description: "\"It may be said that the power of preventing bad laws includes that of preventing good ones; and may be used to the one purpose as well as to the other...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/alexander-hamilton-619_bad-laws_it-may-be-said-that-the-power-of-prevent_1675328.jpg" --- # It may be said that the power of preventing bad laws… ![“It may be said that the power of preventing bad laws includes that of preventing good ones; and may be used to the one purpose as well as to the other. But this objection will have little weight with those who can properly estimate the mischiefs of that inconstancy and mutability in the laws…” quote by Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/alexander-hamilton-619_bad-laws_it-may-be-said-that-the-power-of-prevent_1675328.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/alexander-hamilton-619_bad-laws_it-may-be-said-that-the-power-of-prevent_1675328.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ac/alexander-hamilton-619_bad-laws_it-may-be-said-that-the-power-of-prevent_1675328.jpg) > “It may be said that the power of preventing bad laws includes that of preventing good ones; and may be used to the one purpose as well as to the other. But this objection will have little weight with those who can properly estimate the mischiefs of that inconstancy and mutability in the laws, which form the greatest blemish in the character and genius of our governments.” [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Legal stability requires both preventing harmful statutes and allowing beneficial ones; rigidity can hinder progress. **In simple terms:** Good lawmaking balances restraint and flexibility. Key Takeaway Balance caution with openness. Themes law government policy philosophy Mood analytical critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - legislative drafting - judicial review - policy reform Key Concepts legal theory public good institutional design Questions to Reflect On - How to we ensure laws adapt responsibly? - What safeguards prevent harmful legislation? A Different Perspective Over‑regulation can stifle innovation and necessary change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-laws/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Inconstancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inconstancy/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laws/) [Mischief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mischief/) [Mutability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutability/) [Objections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/objections/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Weight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weight/) ## Related quotes > [Bad facts make bad law, and people who write bad laws are in my opinion more dangerous than songwriters who celebrate sexuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/bad-facts-make-bad-law-and-people-who-write-bad-laws-are-in-my/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [There’s this powerful phrase in the legal world, “Difficult cases make bad law.” The exception is the difficult case. You can’t generalize them by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/there-s-this-powerful-phrase-in-the-legal-world-difficult-cases-make/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [We cannot, by total reliance on law, escape the duty to judge right and wrong... There are good laws and there are occasionally bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-bickel/we-cannot-by-total-reliance-on-law-escape-the-duty-to-judge-right-and/) Alexander Bickel > [The best use of good laws is to teach men to trample bad laws under their feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/the-best-use-of-good-laws-is-to-teach-men-to-trample-bad-laws-under/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) > [Bad facts make bad law, and people who write bad laws are in my opinion more dangerous than songwriters who celebrate sexuality. Freedom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/bad-facts-make-bad-law-and-people-who-write-bad-laws-are-in-my-2/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [“In short, we do not get good laws to restrain bad people. We get good people to restrain bad laws.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/in-short-we-do-not-get-good-laws-to-restrain-bad-people-we-get-good/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Some of us do not accept the Establishment myth that bad laws must be obeyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-driberg/some-of-us-do-not-accept-the-establishment-myth-that-bad-laws-must-be/) Tom Driberg > [Anyone who takes it upon himself, on his private authority, to break a bad law, thereby authorizes everyone else to break the good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/anyone-who-takes-it-upon-himself-on-his-private-authority-to-break-a/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [It is difficult to make our material condition better by the best law, but it is easy enough to ruin it by bad laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-difficult-to-make-our-material-condition-better-by-the-best-law/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [“When EVIL men make bad laws, righteous men disobey them." Pastor Butch Paugh”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarrin-p-lupo/when-evil-men-make-bad-laws-righteous-men-disobey-them-pastor-butch/) Tarrin P. Lupo > [“The visitor shrugged. "Like euthanasia? I'm sorry, Father, I feel that the laws of a society are what make something a crime or not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr/the-visitor-shrugged-like-euthanasia-i-m-sorry-father-i-feel-that-the/) [Walter M. Miller Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr/) > [When I so pressingly urge a strict observance of all the laws, let me not be understood as saying there are no bad laws,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/when-i-so-pressingly-urge-a-strict-observance-of-all-the-laws-let-me/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bad laws are the worst sort of tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/bad-laws-are-the-worst-sort-of-tyranny/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [“Let me not be understood as saying that there are no bad laws, nor that grievances may not arise for the redress of which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-me-not-be-understood-as-saying-that-there-are-no-bad-laws-nor/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [ Since the early days, \[the church\] has thrown itself violently against every effort to liberate the body and mind of man. It has been,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/since-the-early-days-the-church-has-thrown-itself-violently-against/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) ## More by Alexander Hamilton > [“I am apprehensive, Sir, that in the warmth of my feelings, I may have uttered expressions, which were too vehement. If such has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/i-am-apprehensive-sir-that-in-the-warmth-of-my-feelings-i-may-have/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [“The truth unquestionably is, that the only path to a subversion of the republican system of the Country is, by flattering the prejudices of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-truth-unquestionably-is-that-the-only-path-to-a-subversion-of-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [ \[W\]ar is a question, under our constitution, not of Executive, but of Legislative cognizance. It belongs to Congress to say whether the Nation shall… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/w-ar-is-a-question-under-our-constitution-not-of-executive-but-of/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [It will be of little avail to the people, that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-will-be-of-little-avail-to-the-people-that-the-laws-are-made-by/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Though a wide ocean separates the United States from Europe, yet there are various considerations that warn us against an excess of confidence or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/though-a-wide-ocean-separates-the-united-states-from-europe-yet-there/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [It is an unquestionable truth, that the body of the people in every country desire sincerely its prosperity. But it is equally unquestionable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-an-unquestionable-truth-that-the-body-of-the-people-in-every/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [There are still to be found visionary or designing men, who stand ready to advocate the paradox of perpetual peace between the states, though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/there-are-still-to-be-found-visionary-or-designing-men-who-stand/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [ It is one thing to be subordinate to the laws, and another \[for the Executive\] to be dependent on the legislative body. The first… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-one-thing-to-be-subordinate-to-the-laws-and-another-for-the/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Man is very much a creature of habit. A thing that rarely strikes his senses will generally have but little influence upon his mind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/man-is-very-much-a-creature-of-habit-a-thing-that-rarely-strikes-his/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [Money is, with propriety, considered as the vital principle of the body politic; as that which sustains its life and motion, and enables it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/money-is-with-propriety-considered-as-the-vital-principle-of-the-body/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [The nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master and deserves one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-nation-which-can-prefer-disgrace-to-danger-is-prepared-for-a/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [It is a well-known fact that in countries in which the national debt is properly funded, and an object of established confidence, it answers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-is-a-well-known-fact-that-in-countries-in-which-the-national-debt/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [A government, the constitution of which renders it unfit to be trusted with all the powers which a free people ought to delegate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/a-government-the-constitution-of-which-renders-it-unfit-to-be-trusted/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [The Liberty of the press consists in the right to publish with impunity truth with good motives for justifiable ends, though reflecting on government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/the-liberty-of-the-press-consists-in-the-right-to-publish-with/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [You should not have taken advantage of my sensibility to steal into my affections without my consent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/you-should-not-have-taken-advantage-of-my-sensibility-to-steal-into/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) [Explore all 443 Alexander Hamilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) ## More Bad laws quotes > [Bad facts make bad law, and people who write bad laws are in my opinion more dangerous than songwriters who celebrate sexuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/bad-facts-make-bad-law-and-people-who-write-bad-laws-are-in-my/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [“Let me not be understood as saying that there are no bad laws, nor that grievances may not arise for the redress of which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-me-not-be-understood-as-saying-that-there-are-no-bad-laws-nor/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bad laws are the worst sort of tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/bad-laws-are-the-worst-sort-of-tyranny/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [When I so pressingly urge a strict observance of all the laws, let me not be understood as saying there are no bad laws,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/when-i-so-pressingly-urge-a-strict-observance-of-all-the-laws-let-me/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“The visitor shrugged. "Like euthanasia? I'm sorry, Father, I feel that the laws of a society are what make something a crime or not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-m-miller-jr/the-visitor-shrugged-like-euthanasia-i-m-sorry-father-i-feel-that-the/) [Walter M. Miller Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-m-miller-jr/) > [“When EVIL men make bad laws, righteous men disobey them." Pastor Butch Paugh”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarrin-p-lupo/when-evil-men-make-bad-laws-righteous-men-disobey-them-pastor-butch/) Tarrin P. Lupo > [It is difficult to make our material condition better by the best law, but it is easy enough to ruin it by bad laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/it-is-difficult-to-make-our-material-condition-better-by-the-best-law/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Anyone who takes it upon himself, on his private authority, to break a bad law, thereby authorizes everyone else to break the good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-diderot/anyone-who-takes-it-upon-himself-on-his-private-authority-to-break-a/) [Denis Diderot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-diderot/) > [Some of us do not accept the Establishment myth that bad laws must be obeyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-driberg/some-of-us-do-not-accept-the-establishment-myth-that-bad-laws-must-be/) Tom Driberg > [“In short, we do not get good laws to restrain bad people. We get good people to restrain bad laws.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/in-short-we-do-not-get-good-laws-to-restrain-bad-people-we-get-good/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Bad facts make bad law, and people who write bad laws are in my opinion more dangerous than songwriters who celebrate sexuality. Freedom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-zappa/bad-facts-make-bad-law-and-people-who-write-bad-laws-are-in-my-2/) [Frank Zappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-zappa/) > [The best use of good laws is to teach men to trample bad laws under their feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/the-best-use-of-good-laws-is-to-teach-men-to-trample-bad-laws-under/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) > [We cannot, by total reliance on law, escape the duty to judge right and wrong... 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Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) [Browse all 26 Bad laws quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-laws/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It may be said that the power of preventing bad laws includes that of preventing good ones; and may be used to the one purpose as well as to the other. 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